The Arthritis Foundation has teamed up with Bayonne Medical Center, Christ Hospital and Hoboken University Medical Center to present the Jersey City Jingle Bell Run/Walk on Sunday, Dec. 9. This annual nationwide event is a fun and festive way to kick off the holiday season while raising awareness of America’s leading cause of disability, as well as desperately needed funds for research, health education and government advocacy to improve the lives of people with arthritis. To celebrate the holiday season, participants tie jingle bells to their shoelaces, don festive holiday costumes and join friends and neighbors in support of the Arthritis Foundation’s mission to prevent, control and cure arthritis and related diseases.

Started in 2008, the Jersey City Jingle Bell Run/Walk which traditionally had over 500 attendees each year, took a hiatus in 2011. Due to popular demand, the Arthritis Foundation’s New Jersey Chapter was excited to bring it back for this December. Bayonne Medical Center has been a longstanding sponsor of the event, and the Foundation was thrilled to have them as presenting sponsors of this year’s event along with their partner hospitals, Hoboken University Medical Center and Christ Hospital.

The Jersey City Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis will take place on Dec. 9 at Michael Anthony’s Waterfront Restaurant.For more information, to register or form a team, or to volunteer on event day, visit www.jerseycityjbr.kintera.org or call (732) 284-4300.

Union City fire seen from Hoboken, Jersey City; building occupants safe

UNION CITY -- A massive three-alarm fire broke out around 3 o'clock p.m. at a residential building on the corner of Bergenline Avenue and Fifth Street in Union City on Monday. As of the 5 p.m. rush hour, the blaze continued to burn and the roof was collapsing.

The fire was put out by 8 p.m.

North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue (NHRFR) squads arrived on the scene soon after the fire started, said NHRFR fire director Jeff Welz. All of the buildings occupants were evacuated safely, said Welz.

Around 5 or 10 minutes after the firefighters' arrival, the fire reached the roof of the building, which holds apartments as well as a ground floor deli/market. Five minutes after that, the roof began to collapse, said Welz.

Three fire engines have raised their ladders and are currently shooting water onto the blaze from above. Helicopters are also hovering over the scene.

Before darkness fell, the smoke could be seen from 14th Street in Hoboken, and appeared to come from behind the old Yardley factory up the hill. Some residents believed the fire was in Hoboken.

The fire was started on the fourth and top floor of the building, possibly in the south-east corner apartment, said Union City Chief of Police Brian Barrett.

"That's what we're hearing from the fire department," said Barrett. "We definitely got everyone out though. Thank God it wasn't in the middle of the night."

There were concerns that one person, a 93-year-old woman, had not been evacuated, but following a quick investigation it was discovered that she was with friends in an apartment across the street.

Car found in Secaucus pool; driver from North Bergen

SECAUCUS -- The driver of the blue Cadillac sedan that was found floating in the Secaucus Swimming Pool a week ago Wednesday morning was identified as 26-year-old Joshua Goyes from North Bergen, according to Sgt. Detective Thomas O’Keeffe.

Goyes turned himself in around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday night and later released that evening after posting bail. Police responded to a call at 7:36 a.m. about a vehicle submerged in the town pool, according to O’Keeffe. A dive team was called in to search the pool. A crew was also called in to remove the blue 2005 Cadillac CTS from the pool.

Goyes was charged with reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, and possession of drug paraphernalia because police removed a suspected marijuana roach from the vehicle, according to the police.

O’Keeffe said he could not disclose any details on whether Goyes was the same individual who refused medical treatment by the EMS around 3 a.m. Wednesday morning after the individual was found walking along Route 3 East by the Sunoco station in soaked clothing.

O’Keeffe said the police are working on determining the details related to how the car ended up in the pool. Goyes was also wanted by Secaucus Police for a local town ordinance violation in the amount of $94 according to the police. He is due to appear in Secaucus Municipal Court on Dec. 5 at 5:30 p.m.